Hundreds of East Hawai‘i keiki accept DARE to lead safe and healthy lives

Hundreds of East Hawai‘i keiki accepted the dare to make safe and responsible decisions to resist alcohol, drugs, tobacco, violence and other risky situations so they can lead safe and healthy lives.

They are the graduates of the 2025 Drug Abuse Resistance Education — or DARE — program.

More than 600 enthusiastic students from Hilo, Waiākea and Pāhoa intermediate schools as well as Kalanianaʻole, Honoka‘a and Pa‘auilo elementary schools last week celebrated completing the program.

Hawai‘i Police Department, school resource officers and their partners hosted a full day of fun and exciting events in Hilo to mark the milestone.

DARE is a comprehensive prevention education program taught by highly-trained law enforcement officers in thousands of schools throughout America and many other countries.

The program — which was launched in 1983 — delivers science and evidence-based information to teach students good decision-making skills necessary for a safe and healthy life as well as how to cope in high risk situations such as having to deal with drugs, alcohol, violence, bullying or internet safety.

It’s the largest program of its kind today.

DARE Hawai‘i is committed to supporting law enforcement officers and military police in Hawai‘i with materials and incentives for conducting classes annually to elementary, middle and high school students.

Its mission is two-fold, with the Hawai‘i chapter of the program also aimed at getting island youth to relate to law enforcement as members of the community and opening lines of communication between them by providing information beyond drug-related topics and creating an open dialogue among schools, police and parents to deal with issues.

DARE on the Big Island is instructed by Hawai‘i Police Department’s Community Policing Section. School resource officers and community policing officers are trained to teach DARE curriculum to students in grades 5-8.

The nationally recognized initiative teaches keiki how to make good decisions, be responsible as well as handle bullying and peer pressure. Furthermore, DARE Hawai‘i is committed to instructing the students to be respectable and responsible citizens.

East Hawai‘i graduation day — hosted at Charles “Sparky” Kawamoto Swim Stadium in Hilo — began with master of ceremonies Hawai‘i Police Department Capt. Roy Valera delivering opening remarks.

Police Chaplain Renee Godoy gave the benediction followed by remarks by Police Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz’s and words of encouragement before awarding students with a day of fun and excitement for all of their hard work.

After the opening ceremony and students reciting the DARE pledge, they were presented with a scenario re-enacting a traffic collision.

Hawai‘i Police Department worked in conjunction with Hawai‘i Fire Department to simulate how medics would provide aide during a collision that resulted in severe injuries.

The Fire Department’s rescue helicopter arrived and airlifted the “victim” out of the area, much to the amazement and cheers of the students.

Keiki were also treated to a demonstration by the Police Department’s Special Response Team using a robot to address a bomb threat.

Members of the Hawai‘i Police Department’s Special Response Team, including Vice officers, also simulated an arrest that included a demonstration from the Vice narcotics detector K-9.

The event even featured waterslides, swimming, carnival games and tug-of-war, among other activities.

Hawai‘i Police Department thanks the public and volunteers for assisting with the event, as well as county agencies, particularly Hawai‘i County Council, Parks and Recreation, Office of the Prosecutor and Hawai‘i Fire Department.

“This year’s event was an incredible success and we would like to send our sincerest mahalo and thank you to all of the donors, businesses and the community for their support,” the department said in a press release. “It is our hope that this DARE Day celebration will continue to grow in appreciation among the students who completed the program.”